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Company Profile

STEM™ was founded in 2011 by Robert van Eerde as a “Hands On” Consulting company. The company was founded at that time because there was a clear need for support and guidance for the smaller independent hotel market who were struggling to survive due to a stalling economy worldwide.

The company has since evolved in a hotel management company dedicating and specializing only in true boutique hotels. The first property was established in China where it is now busy and successful building a reputation in a new flourishing market. The hotel has also added to it’s profile in Miami Beach USA and is since 2014 aiming to expand worldwide.

STEM’s aim is to be the solution for those hotel owners who do not want to be involved in the day to day management of their property but still will enjoy the relationship with the property but is financially secure and in safe hands.

The company intends not to create a huge corporate structure but a lean and affective one. The success relies on effective management at hotel property and to spread the costs as much as possible using the family of hotels as much as possible.

STEM™ Mission Statement

To develop an international “true boutique” hotel management company, dedicated to optimizing financial success for all properties working in a clear and transparent manner with hotel owners.

Vision

To develop and promote independently owned boutique hotels around the world.

To achieve realistic maximum returns per hotel for stake holders.

To manage available limited resources in a prudent effective way.

To be pioneers in defining “True Boutique” worldwide as a hotel category.

To always work “hands on” in an honest and transparent way with ownership and staff.

Recognizing and interpreting owners own vision and input in their property.

To have strong teams and management at each property.

To establish an international recognizable quality Assurance program for boutique hotels.

To ensure each property has it’s own heart and soul.

To be an integral part of the local community and or area.

Develop people as individuals, professionals and practice equality for all.

To use portfolio of properties to the advantage of all family properties but keeping individuality.

To enjoy, be proud and have fun in what we are doing with integrity.

Partners

Gavin Rimmer

Gavin born in the United Kingdom brought up in South Africa, started his International Hotel Career over 21 years ago. During this time he has progressed through the ranks covering all aspects of the hotel business.

Working his way upwards and onwards Gavin solidified his managerial career at The milestone Hotel in London UK, A high quality boutique hotel starting as a Night manager leaving as the deputy general manager. During this time the hotel won many prestigious awards focusing predominantly on service in which he played an integral part.

From London Gavin was asked to move to the highlands of Scotland to be promoted to House manager of the world famous Old Course Hotel at St Andrews. Gavin was responsible for the day to day running of this 5 star Leading Hotel of the World. During this time he also assisted in projects at sister properties in Milwaukee and Chicago in the USA.

After many years in Scotland Gavin took the opportunity to move to Northern Ireland and apply his service and management skills to open the luxury Loch Erne Gold Course and Thai spa. This was a complete refurbishment and repositioning program at the highest levels including a new skill on Spa management. Loch erne also included a real estate program.

Having travelled and seen many part s of the world a new challenge in Qatar was presented to him to be part of Souq Waqif Boutique hotel in Doha. A series of exclusive boutique hotels Gavin was responsible as general manager for the top two properties there, Al Mirqab and the beautiful Al Najada. This is where his business relationship blossomed with Robert van Eerde.

Robert asked Gavin to take over the Red wall garden Hotel in Beijing China and has never looked back. Gavin transformed this property winning numerous awards to being number one on trip Advisor in 2015 and 2014. The restaurant was transformed and the hotel has become super successful under his leadership.

Gavin is an integral part of STEM™ in China and assist the company with it’s developed at all times. Gavin’s experience in boutique hotel management is second to none and his experience is key for STEM™ to grow in China and beyond.

Stefan Dombosch

A German National, Stefan graduated from the University of Tübingen and Florida International University in 1997 with a teaching degree. He worked as both a linguistic and literature lecturer at the University of Miami and simultaneously completed his MBA in International Business there.

Prior to entering the hospitality world, he was a financial consultant for various small and midsize businesses in the Greater Miami area.

Stefan’s hospitality career took off in 2003 when he began working for some of the world’s leading cruise lines. As a senior manager within the onboard hotel departments for over 4 years, Stefan managed within the hotel department on various Princess and Cunard vessels sailing internationally. He devised and implemented onboard marketing strategies and ensured adherence to corporate policy and procedure. He was in charge of preparing complex financial reports for onboard and shore-side senior management and regularly conducted performance audits of fleet-wide hotel personnel.

After returning to hotel operations on land, Stefan embarked on a new challenge by helping establish front of house policies and procedures for Gansevoort South Beach, a $500 million condo hotel project in South Beach. Along with Robert van Eerde, principal of STEM™ Hotels, he was part of the opening team for the 334-room property and, over the course of four years, worked as both Front Office Manager and Director of Operations.

In 2011, Stefan joined STEM™ Hotels and followed his true passion of working on boutique hotel projects worldwide. He was instrumental in the creation and operation of six high-end properties for the Qatari Royal Family in Doha: Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels. He functioned as opening GM for three of these properties and, amongst others, was tasked with managing the pre-opening of Qatari-owned Adria Hotel in London, England.

Shifting his focus further east since 2013, Stefan was a key player in turning a small courtyard property, Red Wall Garden Hotel, into Beijing’s Number 1 Hotel as rated by Tripadvisor. Whilst in China he was involved in numerous other projects building up his Chinese experience in particular getting hotels off the ground.

Michael Liu

Michael a Chinese National who studied business studies in London and later worked for many years in Europe before returning to his home city Beijing, in the PR of China.

Michael has a wealth of experience focusing on business development after having worked in hotels in various positions but this clearly became his forte over time. Working on behalf of owners and particularly with Epoque a boutique hotel representation company now based in Kuala Lumpur that Michael build up his own vast network of people, government agencies and hotel owners all over China.

For over 5 years. Michael was very much responsible for the success of expanding Epoque in China. Michael managed to expand the Epoque network to just under 30 boutique hotels throughout China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. During this time Michael’s skill and ability in creating warm fruitful relationships by combining and interpreting his knowledge on successful Western business practices and tying those in with Chinese business culture is second to none.

Michael decided to join STEM™ as Managing Director for China in order to develop this skill and to be part of something new and exciting beikng ahead of the booming boutique hotel business in China. Michael vision of a “True Boutique” hotel management in his native country he see as the opportunity of a lifetime. Michael is adamant to be part and parcel of the inevitable continuous growth of boutique hotels and wants to be ahead of most others.

Michael was invited as a full partner to the STEM™ family not only because of his amazing business ability in working with different cultures building successful hotel businesses but also because Robert and Michael have a very similar outlook in life. This both regard as a key ingredient in true boutique hotels culture and very much part of success.

Robert Van Eerde

A Dutch National graduated from the University of Sussex in 1987 (formerly Brighton Polytechnic), Robert van Eerde started his hotel career by doing spells as a chef, waiter, steward and front office clerk throughout India, UK, Ireland and Belgium before taking his first GM position in 1992 at age 28.

Robert founded STEM™ in 2010 as there is a clear need for boutique hotels to have professional support. The company has numerous projects around the world , Middle east, Far east, Europe and USA and is also a partner/owner of a hotel Operating Company Hspot Hotels in China.

Notable projects have included:

The Clarence Hotel, Dublin Ireland General Manager for 5 years for 5 star boutique hotel owned by Bono and the Edge of the rock band U2. The Clarence garnered top accolades under van Eerde’s leadership, including recognition as one of The Leading Small Hotels of the World and many prestigious awards, such as inclusion as one of the “top 15 Boutique hotels in Europe” by Travelers magazine.

The Standard, Miami Beach Florida Regional Director of Operations for maverick hotelier Andre Balazs for 2.5 years. Robert served as on site GM for The Raleigh and opened and established The Standard, Miami Beach, a pioneer contemporary Urban Spa which was awarded the Conde Naste Readers Choice Award as Best Spa Hotel in the Americas and the Caribbean for 2009.

Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle, Highlands Scotland General Manager for 5 years of very exclusive 7500 acre, 50-room resort with two golf courses, clubhouse, spa and extensive country pursuits. Executing on the vision of legendary entrepreneur, Peter de Savary.

The Gansevoort South, Miami Beach Florida Managing Director of a startup $500 million condo hotel project in South Beach, overlooking the Ocean. He successfully opened the 334 room multi-purpose property in late 2008 before leaving to begin developing STEM LLC.